Angry response as all-weather pitch plan submitted for school

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build an all-weather pitch surrounded by 15-metre-high floodlights next to a residential area in Leeds have left residents “up in arms”.

Cockburn High School, based in Gipsy Lane, Beeston, has submitted proposals to revamp their playing fields, which would create a full size artificial grass football pitch to the rear of houses on the neighbouring Southleigh Estate.

Residents fear possible late night noise as well as light from eight proposed floodlights on the pitch that could be used up to 10pm at night, seven days a week including during holidays.

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Rebecca Almond, who lives in nearby Southleigh Drive, is one of many disgruntled residents with mounting fears that the plans could impact negatively on the area if accepted.

The 37-year-old events and exhibitions coordinator said: “The last thing anybody wants is a gang of kids rocking up at 9pm kicking balls about, especially when you’re working the next day.

“There will be 15-metre floodlights that will be on all day and night and there will be massive disruption during construction work.”

Ms Almond, who has lived on the street for two-and-a-half years, said that other facilities at venues like the John Charles Centre already fulfil the local need for sports pitches.

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Her concerns over the plans are added to by the fact that the school is situated at the top of a cul de sac, raising concerns about traffic during construction.

She said: “The school purports to be a specialist school for the performing arts so surely that is where they should be spending their time and money?”

Along with the all-weather pitch, new fencing and changing facilities are proposed on the school’s current playing fields.

In addition, a letter circulating the estate reads: “This will have a dramatic and devastating affect on the privacy, peace and comfort of those whose back gardens would be right next to the proposed pitch, with noise and light pollution an inevitable consequence.”

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Residents who sent out the letter are currently going door to door collecting signatures for a petition to display the strength of feeling against the school’s plans.

But John Ellis, chair of Southleigh Residents Association, has advised residents to submit concerns to Leeds City Council and attend the association’s next meeting at the school on September 13 at 6.45pm.

Mr Ellis, who is also a governor at the school, said: “In my opinion it is a central government initiative to have all-weather playing areas in schools in order to encourage children into sport in the wider community. A number of other schools in the local area already have these facilities.”

The proposed artificial sports pitch would be 7,300 sq m in size and is intended for use by the school from 10am to 5pm on week days.

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The facility, which can be sectioned into three smaller pictures, would then be open to the community until 10pm on weekdays and on weekends.

Ward councillor Angela Gabriel said there was unanimous opposition to the plan.

“We looked at the plans and it needs to be altered and needs to be moved further away from housing,” she said.

“There are no mixed views, none of them want it, the only people that have contacted me are the ones that are up in arms about it.

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“The school have put in their planning permission and closed and gone away for the summer.”

She said that herself and fellow ward Councillor Adam Ogilvie will submit a letter of objection.

A council spokeswoman said that comments on the plans are welcomed and must be submitted by August 24. The council’s planning department is expected to make a decision on whether the plans will be accepted or not by September 17.

Visit www.leeds.gov.uk/publicaccess and search for 12/02987/FU for details.

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